Seth Demonstration Forest is a 121-acre woodland in central Talbot County, just east of Easton. Donated to the State of Maryland by Mary W. Seth in 1928, the deed requires that the land “be under management of the State Department of Forestry and used to demonstrate proper forestry practices”. For more than 80 years the Forest Service has managed the tract accordingly.

The property also contains an Ecologically Significant Area (ESA). While it does not directly adjoin Chesapeake Forest parcels, its management objectives align closely with Chesapeake Forest goals. To simplify ongoing stewardship and day-to-day administration, this tract was incorporated into the CFL Sustainable Forest Management Plan in July 2006.

Quick facts

• Size: 121 acres
• Location: Central Talbot County, east of Easton
• Gifted: Mary W. Seth, 1928
• Purpose: Forestry demonstration and management per deed
• Special features: Contains an Ecologically Significant Area
• Management: Forest Service oversight for 80+ years; added to CFL Sustainable Forest Management Plan (July 2006)
• Getting there: Google Maps

In early 2025, Talbot Thrive partnered with a group of mountain-biking enthusiasts from the Blue Crab Bicycle Club to tackle clearing and maintaining existing trails on the property and opening up new trails for all types of recreation. This work is approved and supported by Chesapeake Forests. Since that initiative began, a hearty crew has cleared more than 2 miles of trails. The next step will be to map and mark the trails so that navigation is more clear to users and an expansion of the Dover Neck Rd. parking lot to accomodate more vehicles.

Users are warned that bow hunting does occur on this property between September and January and to put safety orange clothing on you and your pets during that time. No hunting is permitted on Sundays which is when most trail maintenance is happening.

Email Jenny Dillon, Trail Maintenance leader at jennifer_dillon@fws.gov or call her at 614-556-7802 if you would like to help out!

Click below for a PDF of the updated trail map as of September 2025.